Slicing machine



June 28, 1932. W. .1. CAMPBELL 1,365,41

SLICING MACHINE Filed Oct. lO, 1950 3 SheetSwSheet l W. J. CAMPBELL SLICING MACHINE June 28, 1932.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed OCT.. 10. 1950 www# Jim@ 28, 1932 vv. J. CAMPBELL 1,865,411

SLICING MACHINE Filed Oct. l0. 1930 3 SheetS-Shee 3 Patented .lune 28, 1932 Uhllli la?.

YVLLAE'I J. CAMEBELL, GF INDIANAPOLS, INDANA, ASSEGNOR TO AMERICAN SLCNG "sCIeNE COMPANY, OF CElCAGO, LLINOS, A CORORATXON OF NEV YORK SLCING MACHINE Application filed October 10, 1930.

My invention relates to an improvement in slicing machines and particularly to an improvement in slicing machines of the type wherein the knife is employed, associated with generally parallel guard and gauge plates, and a carriage is guided across the face of guard and gauge plates and past the cutting edge of the knife. One object is the provision of means for thrusting the meat, upon the carriage, toward the gauge and guard plates and toward the knife, as the carriage is moved toward and past the cutting edge of the knife. Another object is the provision of yielding means for urging the work toward the knife. Another object is the provision of a pusher plate, which may be yieldingly actuated, and which is removable into and supportable in inoperative position. Another object is the provision of means for holding the pusher plate in inoperative position when its use is not necessary. Another obj ect is the provision of an improved crumb tray or receiving` member removably positioned forwardly of the cutting plane. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more. or less diagrammatically in the accompanying` drawings, wherein- Figure l is front view of the machine;

Figure 2 is a side elevation with parts in section;

Figure 3 is a plan view with parts in section;

Figure l is an enlarged detail section;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section along the line 5 5 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the crumb tray; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged section along the line 7 7 of Figure 2.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specilication and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, A generally indicates the base portion of a slicing machine frame, which may be provided with yielding studs cr supports A1.

In the form of my device herein shown l illustrate a rotary knife B with the knife shaft B1 and the actuating pulley B2, about Serial No. 487,665.

which passes the belt B3 which may extend to a motor or any other suitable driving means. lt will be observed that the axis of the shaft B1 is somewhat tilted in a horizontal plane, as shown in dotted line in Figure 2.

The forward face of the knife is protected by a guard plate C, which serves to mask the knife save for the arcuate exposed portion B4 as shown in Figure l. The tilt ing of the knife shaft B1 tilts the plane of the edge of the knife in relation to the plane of the guard plate C, whereby the exposed portion B4 of the knife may be advanced forwardly of the plane of the guard plate C.

D indicates a gauge plate and may be mounted for example upon a support D1, which support may be adjusted by means of the exterior knob D3 and associated parts, whereby the gauge plate may be set at various positions, in order to regulate the thickness of the desired slice.

E generally indicates the carriage structure which is mounted for example upon the cylindrical supporting track El and is held against rotation in relation thereto, for example by the rectangular track E2 which is engaged by the adjustable contact member E3 positioned in the arm E4 which projects downwardly from the carriage E. Mounted on the bottom of the arm Fr* is a. bracket F15 with an upstanding member E and a contact element El opposed to the adjustable contact E3, and engaging the opposite side of the rectangular track FP. that the tracks El E2 serve to guide the carriage along ai path substantially parallel with the faces of the guard plate C and the gauge plate D.

ln the form of my device herein shown I illustrate a meat or work support upon the carriage in the form of a if-trough generally indicated as G, having a short side G1 and a long side G2.

Associated with the work support G and adjacent the 'long side G2, and somewhat below it, is the hollow guide rod H. It is provided with a shoulder as at H1 which abuts against the carriage E. At its inner end it is screw-threaded as at H2 and any lt will be understood suitable securing nut H3 may be employed, whereby the shoulder 'H1 is drawn up against the carriage structure E. The rod H is also enlarged at its outer end as at H2. Positioned within the hollow of the rod H is the coil spring H5 one end of which is anchored as upon the anchoring member H6. The opposite end is secured to a plug H7 which is screw-threaded into the end of an outer sleeve H8 which is slidable along the exterior of the sleeve H. Its inner aperture conforms generally to the exterior diameter of the member H4, and its inner end is provided with an inwardly enlarged portion H9 conforming generally to the reduced or general diameter of the shaft H. The members H4 and H2 also serve as travel limiting means,

p the hollow shaft H8 is a sleeve J.

whereby outward movement of the shaft HS along the shaft H is limited.

Slidable along the cylindrical exterior of Its outward movement is limited by the enlarged portion H10 of the abutment or plug H7. It will be understood that when the sleeve is moved against the portion H0 it may be employed to withdraw the shaft H8 outwardly along the hollow shaft H until the members H4 and H9 engage. Associated with the sleeve J is the arm J1 which terminates in a sleeve J2 in which is mounted the forwardly extending pin J 3, upon the opposite end of which is mounted the pusher plate J 2. The pin J 3 may be screwthreaded into the hub or sleeve J 5 extending from. the rear of the pusher plate J '2. The sleeve is provided with a lateral extension J G which may be secured to the rear of the pusher plate as by the screw 1t will be understood that the pusher plate J 4 conforms generally to the form of the trough defined by the members G1 and G2, as shown in Figure 1. Referring t-o the parts in the position in which they are shown 1n Figures l and 2, the pin J 2, and thus the pusher plate, are rotatable in relation to the sleeve J2. The sleeve J is also rotatable about the shaft H8. Thus when it is desired to move the pusher plate into inoperative position the pusher plate may be rotated in relation to the sleeve J2, and the sleeve J2 may be rotated about the shaft H8. Normally the corner of the pusher plate J 't will strike against the bottom of the member G2, or against that portion of the carriage which supports it, as shown in the dot and dash line position in Figure l. It will then naturally pivot in relation to the sleeve J2, to take the dotted line position of Figure l. The spring H will then be effective to draw it inwardly toward the cutting plane. As it is so drawn its lower edge will engage the securing button K and will seat against the ledge K1 and in the slot K2, the structure as a. whole being mounted upon or forming part of a member or support K3, secured to the carriage E. The parts are so proportioned that when the pusher plate seats in the recess K2 the spring is substantially relaxed, so that there is not any substantial continuing strain upon the spring, but the tension upon the spring, when the pusher plate is positioned substantially to the right of the member K, referring to the position of the parts as shown in Figure 2, is suflicient to tend to urge the pusher plate toward the member K and into the slot K2, and at least makes its manual insertion by the operator easy and natural.

Referring to the securing' means as shown for example at K, K2, K2, in Fig. 5, it will be understood that the edge of the pusher plate engaged by the securing member may be located at any point about or within the periphery of the pusher plate. It will be also understood that the parts are preferably so proportioned that the slot K2 will not prevent escape of the pusher plate from the securing means in response to a direct pull of the operator. It may be convenient to have the slot of sufficient depth to prevent unintended movement but of insufhcient depth or of rounded or other contour to hold the pusher plate against an intended pull on the part of the operator.

Mounted forwardly of the cutting plane, and upon the base A is a receiving dish or crumb receiver generally indicated as M. Extending from each end thereof are lugs hl1 M1 forwardly slotted as at M2, the upper surface of the lug M1 being slightly cupped or recessed as at M3. Mounted upon the frame A are the pins M2, headed as at M5 and surrounded by the securing buttons MG. Each such button is centrally apertured as at lV 7, the aperture being of such size as to permit the button to slide upwardly about the head M5. The aperture is closed by a bottom portion MS conforming to the diameter of the reduced portion M of the pin. M2 indicates a spring in the space between the pin M4 and the button MG, adapted normally to urge the button downwardly toward the frame or toward the washer or wear taking element M10. t will be seen that the lower surface of the button M6 is formed, as at M12, to conform generally or to slide easily in relation to the surface la of the lugs M1. It will thus be seen that the dish may be positioned upon the frame, forwardly of the cutting plane, and beneath the forward edge of the carriage, by being merely thrust against the buttons MG. The tray may be removed by simply withdrawing it against the buttons, or it may be pivoted about either button, by removing it from the other.

As will be seen in Figure 2, a slice receiving tray 0 is provided, most of which is positioned to the rear of the cutting plane.

It includes, however, a slight forward prof jection O1 which overlies the inner edge of the member M, so that any material which fails to drop into the tray O and falls over' its forward edge O1, will be received in the tray M. Y

- I'claim l. In a slicing machine which includes a knife and means for actuating it, and a carriage including a work supporting portion thereon, and means for guiding the carriage past thecutting edge of the knife, a pusher plate mounted upon said carriage, an eXtensible guide therefor, said guide including a member normally fixed in relation to the carriage and a member movable toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, yielding means adapted normally to urge said pusher plate toward the cutting plane, said pusher plate being slidably mounted upon said movable guide member and being rotatable about said guide into inoperative position below the work supporting portion of the carriage, and securing means for holding said pusher plate in inoperative position, including a member mounted upon the carriage underneath the work supporting portion thereof, said member being slotted to receive an edge of the pusher plate, said guide being extensible against the tension of said yielding means to a length such that the pusher plate will'clear the work supporting portion of the carriage for rotation about said guide to a position below said work support for operative association with said last mentioned member.

2. In a slicing machine which includes a knife and means for actuating it, andy a carriage including a work supporting portion thereon and means for guiding the carriage past the cutting edge of the knife, a pusher plate mounted upon said' carriage, an eXtensible guide therefor, said guide including a member normally fixed in relation to the carriage and a member movable toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, yielding means adapted normally to urge said pusher plate toward the cutting plane, said pusher plate being slidably mounted upon said movable guide member and being rotatable about said guide into inoperative position below the work supporting portion of the carriage and securing means positioned under the work supporting portion of the carriage for holding said pusher plate in inoperative position beneath the carriage, said guide being eXtensible against the tension of said yielding means to a length such that the pusher plate will clear the work supporting portion of the carriage for rotation about said guide to a position below said work support for operative association with said securing means, said securing means being adapted to prevent movement of said pusher plate toward and away from the cutting plane and to prevent accidental rotation of said pusher plate when in inoperative position.

3. In a slicing machine which includes a knife and means for actuating it, and a carriage including` a work supporting portion thereon and means for guiding the carriage past the cutting edge of the knife, a pusher plate mounted upon said carriage, an eXtensible guide therefor, said guide including a member normally fixed in relation to the guide and a member movabletoward and away from the cutting` plane of the knife, yielding` means adapted normally to urge said pusher plate toward the cutting plane, said pusher plate Vbeing slidably mounted uponrsaid movable guide member and being rotatable about said guide into inoperative position below the work receiving portion of the carriage and securing means for holding said pusher plate in inoperative position underneath the work receiving portion of the carriage, said guide being extensible against the tension of said yielding means to a length. such that the pusher plate will clear the work supporting portion of the carriage for rotation about said guide to a position below said work support for operative association with said securing means, said securingmeans, including a tapered stud mounted upon the carriage, the tapered head of said stud facing outwardly away from the cutting plane, said stud being slotted to receive an .edge of the pusher plate. l

4. In a slicing machine which includes a knife and means for actuating it, and a carriage including' a work supporting portion thereon and means for guiding the carriage past the cutting edge of the knife, a pusher,- plate mounted upon said carriage, an eXtensible guide therefor, said carriage including a member normally fixed in relation tothe carriage and a member movable toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, yielding means adapted normally to urge said pusher plate toward the cutting plane, said pusher plate being slidably mounted upon said movable guide member and being rotatable about said guide into inoperativeV- position below the work receiving portion of the carriage and securing means for holding said pusher plate in inoperative position underneath the work supporting portion of the carriage, said guide being extensible against the tension of said yielding means to a length such that the pusher plate will clear the work supporting portion of the carriage for rotation about said guide to a position below the work support for operative association with said securing means, said securing means including a tapered stud mounted upon the carriage, the tapered head of said stud facing outwardly away from the cutting plane, said stud being slotted to receive an edge of the pusher plate, said slot being` bounded, on the side toward the cutting plane by an abutment portion of greater height than the height of said' stud above the slot bottom.

In a slicing machine which includes a knife and means for actuatingit, and a carriage and means for guiding the carriage past the cutting edge of the knife, a work supporting member associated with said carriage, and including a rearwardly overhanging trough, a pusher plate associated with the trough, a guide for said plate, said plate being slidable on said guide for movement in the trough to and from the cutting plane of the knife and being rotatable, in relation to the axis of said guide, into and out of alignment with saidVV trough, and means, positioned below said trough, for receiving said pusher plate and for holding it in inoperative position below said trough, and intermediate the ends of said trough, said plate being movable on the guide rotatably and slidably into operative engagement with said plate receiving means in a position underlying said trough.`

6. In a slicing machine which includes a knife and means for actuating it, and a carriage and means for guiding the carriage past the cutting edge of the knife, a work supporting member associated with said carriage, and including a work receiving trough, a guide mounted on the carriage adjacent said trough, a pusher plate movable in said trough toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, means for mounting the pusher plate upon said guide including an arm, upon which said pusher plate is mounted, extending radially from said guide and f mounted thereon for sliding and rotary movement with respect thereto, said pusher plate being rotatable in relation to said arm, about an axis parallel with the axis of said guide, and means positioned out of alignment with and intermediate the end of said' trough for supporting said pusher plate and for holding it in inoperative position, said pusher plate being slidable yrelative to the guide and rotatable relative to both the arm and the guide for movement into operative engagement with the pusher plate supporting means.

7. In a slicing machine which includes a knife and a means for actuating it, a carriage and a rearwardly overhanging work supporting member thereon, and means for guiding the carriage past the cutting edge of the knife, a pusher plate operatively associated with the work support, and an extensible guide for the pusher plate, including cooperating members one of which is normally fixed in relation to the carriage and the other is readily movable in relation to the normally fixed member toward and away from the cutting plane, yielding means adapted normally I to urge said movable guide member toward the cutting plane, the pusher plate being mounted on the movable guide member, for sliding and rotary movement with respect thereto, and a connection between said member and the pusher plate adapted, when the pusher plate is at one limit of its movement in relation to said member, to move the pusher plate, with said movable guide member, in response to said yielding means, toward the lcutting plane, and means for holding said pusher plate in inoperative position, said means being positioned underneath the work supporting member of the carriage and being adapted to Aprevent accidental movement of said pusher plate when the pusher plate is positioned in operative association therewith and underneath said work. supporting member, said guide being extensible against the tension of said yielding means to a length such that the pushed plate will clear the work supporting member of the carriage-for rotaf tion about said guide to a position below said work support for operative association with said pusher plate holding means.

8. In a slicing machine which includes a knife and means for actuating it, and a carriage including a rearwardly overhanging work supporting portion, means for guiding the carriage past the cutting edge of the knife, a pusher plate and a guidetherefor, said plate being slidably and rotatably movable in re-r lation to said guide, yielding means effective vto urge the pusher plate toward the cutting plane, said pusher plate being rotatable, about said guide, from operative position above the upper face of said work support-v ing member` to inoperative position underneath the lower face of the work supporting member, and means for holding said pusher plate against accidental movement, in said inoperative position beneath the work supporting member and in close proximity to the lower face of said member, said plate being readily removable from said holding means in response to movement of the plate, by the operator, outwardly away from the cutting plane, said holding means includin a stud having an abutment portion adaptec to limit movement of the pusher plate toward the cutting plane and a holding member adapted to overlap the opposite side of the pusher plate sufficiently normally to prevent unintended displacement of the pusher plate.

9. In a slicing machine which includes a knife and means for guiding it, a carriage, and means for lguiding it past the cutting edge of the knife, a pusher plate mounted upon saidV carriage and a telescoping guide therefor, said guide including a fixed member and a ymember longitudinally movable therealong, the pusher plate being slidably mounted in relation to said movable member,

Ia stop on'said movable member adapted to be engaged by the vpusher plate upon withdrawal of the pusher plate a predetermined distance from the cutting plane, said movable' member being extensible a sufiicient distance to permit the pusher plate to bewithdrawn from above the carriage, and holding means adapted to support the pusher plate in position underneath said carriage. 1

l0. In a slicing machine Which includes a knife and means for actuating it, a carriage, and means for guiding it past the cutting edge of the knife, a rearwardly overhanging Work supporting member for the carriage, a pusher plate mounted upon said carriage and an extensible guide therefor, said pusher plate being mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the guide, and means for positioning said pusher plate underneath the Work supporting surface of the carriage, including a pusher plate support underneath the Work supporting member of the carriage, and yielding means, associated With the eX- tensible guide, urging the pusher plate toward the cutting plane of the knife, said' guide being eXtensible against the tension of said yielding means to a length such that the pusher plate Will clear the Work supporting member of the carriage for rotation about said guide to a position below said Work support for operative association With said pusher plate support.

Signed at Indianapolis, county of Marion and State of Indiana, this 27 th day of Sept.,

'WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL. 

